xorg-redhat-die-ugly-pattern-die-die-die.patch is a perfect example
of a bad we-know-better attitude.
It removes the beautiful grey cross hatch stipple from X. Evidently
because someone knows better what other people like. How does one
get it back, short of tiling a bitmap? If it is anything like
SuSE’s similar patch, you don’t. At least not while the X server
is running.
In summary. Before: you could have a solid-colour background or you
could have a cross hatch background. Just you xsetroot.
After: you get what some monkey with poor eyesight though looked
nice. You cannot change it. After all, he knows better.
Incidentally, the default X pattern also serves to show the poor
state of flatscreen technology. It seems the pattern cannot be
shown over the whole screen without a certain amount of flicker.